A hot beverage preparer (1) has a flow control system (2) with a water source (14), a brewing unit (40) with a brewing chamber (41) to hold brewing material (51) and an inlet line for supplying water to the brewing chamber (41), a heating device (9) for heating the water supplied to the brewing chamber (41), a pump (8) configured to convey the water from the water source (14) to the brewing chamber (41), a control device (18) to activate and deactivate actuators (8, 9, 72) for preparing a selected beverage, and a drainage device (50) having a collection tray (34) for collecting liquid (AW), with an inlet opening (53) and an outlet opening (52) for draining the collected liquid (AW). The collection tray (34) has a bottom (51) with a slope toward the outlet opening (52) and with at least one trough (56).

An absorbent pad for brewing devices is disclosed herein. The absorbent pad for brewing devices comprises an absorbent pad, shaped in the form of a daisy, for use in single-cup brewing devices. The device may be used in the coffee cup catch tray of single-cup brewing systems to absorb spills and drips associated with pouring and brewing coffee. The device eliminates the need of frequently washing the catch tray located under the cup rest. One version of the device may be manufactured using biodegradable, recyclable, disposable material. Current dimensions of the device are approximately 2″ in diameter but may be manufactured in different sizes depending on intended use. The device can be used in private or commercial settings. The absorbent pad catches the remaining drops of coffee after a cup is made and further prevents the catch tray form getting messy.

A beverage-dispensing machine (10) comprises a cabinet housing (11), in which at least a coffee machine unit (16), a milk-frothing device, a water-heating device, an ice-feeding device (12) and an outlet unit (15) are located, the outlet unit being accessible at the front in the lower region of the coffee machine unit (16) and having a plurality of outlet openings (35) for the respective beverages. The ice-feeding device (12) is located above the coffee machine unit (16) in the cabinet housing (11). A tubular ice channel (20) leads to the outlet opening (35) of the outlet unit (15), and ice can be dropped through said tubular ice channel, said tubular ice channel (20) being composed of pieces which can be detached from each other. By means of this arrangement of the ice-feeding device and the ice channel, exact portions of ice can be dispensed in a simple way and without the risk of blockages. Because the ice channel is easy to assemble and disassemble, the ice channel can be completely cleaned and thus the required cleanliness of the ice channel is always ensured.

A beverage maker and a method for operating a beverage maker are provid-ed, wherein the. beverage maker includes a discharge channel having a sensor configured to detect a cleaning agent in water and a control unit configured to receive measured values from the sensor and to take the received measured values as a basis for regu-lating a water intake from the water source. The method includes regulating water intake from the water source based upon the measured values from the sensor in the dis-charge channel to ensure that only an amount of water necessary for re-moving remaining cleaning agent from the beverage maker is utilized for flushing.

A beverage preparation machine (1) comprises: a beverage preparation module (20, 30) having a front face (21) with an outlet (31) for dispensing a prepared beverage; and a cup support (10) located under the outlet (31) for placing a cup (2) under the outlet (31). The cup support (10) comprises a liquid collection receptacle (14) supporting a removable cup placement platform (16) that has a peripheral part (18). The collection receptacle (14) is delimited by at least one upright peripheral sidewall (15) forming a seat (15′) for placing the platform (16). The peripheral part (18) extends over and above the peripheral sidewall (15) when the platform (16) is placed in the seat (15′) so that the platform (16) is seizable at the peripheral part (18) adjacent the peripheral sidewall (15) by a user-hand for removing the platform (16) from the receptacle (14).

The coffee machine comprises a drip tray (1), in turn comprising a container (2) and a covering grille (3) for covering the container (2), the grille (3) being provided with a plurality of openings (12) for the passage of the liquids to the container (2), the tray (1) further comprising a plurality of vertical protrusions (13) passing through the openings (12) and defining with the upper ends thereof a resting surface that is raised with respect to the outer surface (15) of the grille (3).

A coffee machine is for brewing coffee in a brewing chamber and has a waste bin for collecting coffee grinds after brewing and a drip tray for collecting waste water. A sensor system is provided for detecting manual removal of the waste bin and/or the drip tray and a count is made of the number of brews since the last removal of the waste bin and/or drip tray. Information is then displayed showing the number of brews, or the fraction of brews compared to a nominal maximum number of brews, since the last removal.

A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (2) includes: a beverage outlet (3) that is located above a dispensing area (4); a machine body or frame (5) having a first connecting part (51) and bearing the beverage outlet (3); and a recipient support (6) having a second connecting part (61) and a support member (62) held by the second connecting part (61). The second connecting part (61) is disconnectably connectable to the first connecting part (51) so that the support member (62) extends into the dispensing area (4) to support a beverage user-recipient (7) under the beverage outlet (3). The first connecting part (51) and the second connecting part (61) have a connection member and a connection receiver arrangement for disconnectably connecting the parts (51,61) such that: the first connecting part forms a connection member and the second connecting part forms a connection receiver; and/or the first connecting part (51) forms a connection receiver and the second connecting part (61) forms a connection member. The connection member is inserted in the connection receiver when the first and second connecting parts (51,61) are connected. The connection member is removed from the connection receiver along a removal direction (51) when the first and second connecting parts (51,61) are disconnected. The removal direction (51′) has an upwardly directed vertical component (51″) when such machine (1) is in position to dispense the beverage (2).

A beverage preparation machine that has an outlet for dispensing a prepared beverage, a receiving area for receiving a vessel for receiving the prepared beverage, and a platform that delimits the receiving area on the side opposite the outlet, and on which the vessel can be placed while the beverage is being prepared. The platform is at least partly made of an elastomer.

A beverage dispensing apparatus having a height-adjustable support member for supporting a beverage vessel at a plurality of different support positions. The beverage dispensing apparatus may include a beverage dispensing outlet for dispensing a beverage and a movable support member having a top surface for supporting a beverage vessel below the beverage dispensing outlet. The movable support member may include an inner telescoping element and an outer telescoping element. An actuation assembly may be operably coupled to the movable support member to move the movable support member to modify a distance between the top surface of the movable support member and the beverage dispensing outlet. Activation of the actuation assembly may cause both the inner and outer telescoping elements to move simultaneously either towards or away from the beverage dispensing outlet.